According to NBC Sports.com’s Pro Basketball Talk, the Los Angeles Lakers and the New York Knicks are interested in free agent point guard Will Bynum.
Bynum should definitely be a target for the Lakers when the 2013 NBA Free Agency Period begins July 1. The Lakers have a glaring weakness at point guard depth, with an inconsistent Steve Blake and talented but minutes-deprived PG Darius Morris being the first two backups behind 39-year-old.
The Lakers have been plagued with point guard issues for the past few seasons, a concern temporarily filled by Nash signing with Los Angeles last year, however the team needs reliable depth.
Steve Blake does not fit the bill and Darius Morris is talented but raw, but Bynum is definitely capable of providing proven depth off the bench. This season behind Detroit Pistons young starting point guard Brandon Knight, the 30-year-old Bynum averaged 9.8 points per game to go along with a serviceable 3.6 assists per game. Bynum’s strengths are his slashing ability and his knack to penetrate defense, rather than his passing skills, however that may be one thing that the Lakers need to complement sharpshooter Jodie Meeks off the bench.
The Lakers have one of the worst benches in the league, with the Lakers second-unit being unable to shoulder the load for Los Angeles when head coach Mike D’Antoni gave the starters a rest and Bynum could provide a much-needed boost to that underperforming bench.
The one thing that could potentially hold a Bynum to the Lakers deal up is the Lakers’ current financial state.
Los Angeles is well over the cap and luxury tax, meaning the most the Lakers could offer the veteran point guard is the mid-level exception of $3.2 million. Bynum may choose to accept that offer, depending on the amount of interest he receives on the free agent market this season. The Lakers may need to pull off a great recruiting pitch in order to bring Bynum to the purple and gold, however signing the soon-to-be free agent should by a priority for Los Angeles.